Bjorn Tipling

LinkedIn has launched a redesign and a developer platform. The redesign includes its fair share of rounded corners, but they seem to have laid off the gradients. Good for them!

It is a very clean and crisp new look. I especially like the new menu, it’s very simple and kind of beautiful.

In addition to a developer platform (a link to which I can’t see) there are also a Facebook style news feed (which has been on my LinkedIn page for a few weeks now), and some kind of Articles section.

Interesting how they’ve tied me into the Ask.com network, even though I never had to validate my network via an email like I had to with Facebook. Maybe they figure it out from my contacts? Or maybe you can just change your info and it let’s you be a part of a network even though you don’t work for the company? Not really sure.

I wonder if this module section is where you add custom made applications:

Well done LinkedIn! I probably spend more time on LinkedIn than any other social networking site. It just seems to be more relevant. I really have taken an effort to find people I used to work with, and I’ve never tried to connect people actively on MySpace or Facebook. I’m interested in what my past co-workers have been up to. There’s also a real value in staying networked, you never know where you might get your next opportunity. Also I’ve received notifications from recruiters (not third party) about positions. (No thanks by the way I love working at Bloglines and Ask.com). But I see very real value in LinkedIn that I don’t really see in Facebook. I can connect to friends via email and blogs and what not and a bunch of meaningless (but fun) widgets made by developers, I don’t need a Facebook. But LinkedIn offers so much more, including a pretext to stay connected with past colleagues.

I’d really like to see more about this new developer platform. I think its exciting and I wouldn’t mind making a ‘lil something for it.

Read More:
LinkedIn Blog: Announcing LinkedIn News, Redesigned Homepage & more
LinkedIn Blog: LinkedIn’s Intelligent Application Platform
Venture Beat: LinkedIn launches platform — a better business social network
TechCrunch: LinkedIn API and New Homepage Drawing Near